You see, Presidents don’t go around prisons looking for those to be pardoned. That is done by the system through prisons authorities or Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS).
Usually, there is even committee under the Office of the Vice-President that deals with Prerogative of Mercy applications. By the time the list hits the President desk, it is assumed that the vetting process was thorough especially from the ZCS side.
So, for a child rapist who was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment to be released after just serving a year, is what is problem.
How did he find himself on that list? There have been several stories about favouritism and so so when it comes to ZCS list…I have had such reports from even my clients before.
The statement by ZCS is not actually helping anything but rather annoying. Why and how did this 72 years old rapist found himself on the list in the first place? What was special about him? Poor health perhaps? Old age? That is what ZCS should be telling us and not when it was done! Whether it was done in 2020, 2021 or 2026, it is not the point. Why did ZCS put him on that list? Why?
Simply, we are questioning the ZCS decision and not the President. Why did you recommend a child rapist to be given Presidential pardon? Why?
Kambwili must serve full sentence but must access medical care – RPP
The Republican Progressive Party (RPP) Youth Wing has called for former Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Chishimba Kambwili to serve his entire prison sentence, while also insisting that he receives adequate medical care during his incarceration.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Aw6tkPoX/
RPP National Youth chairperson Constantino Mubita has rubbished calls for presidential pardon for Kambwili, who is currently serving a five-month sentence for derogatory statements
Mubita stated that it is simply outrageous to suggest that Kambwili should receive a pardon as equality before the law is a cornerstone of the justice system, and Kambwili’s position as a former government official should not afford him any special treatment.
He stated that justice must be impartial and blind to political status and social standing.
“Kambwili’s conviction for making divisive tribal remarks was the result of a legal process. Granting him a presidential pardon in this case would establish a troubling precedent, suggesting that influential individuals are immune to legal consequences. Such an action could potentially undermine the rule of law and the very foundations of our justice system,” he said.
He emphasised that hate speech and tribalism have no place in Zambia’s democratic society.
Mubita further noted that while it is crucial for Kambwili to serve his full sentence like any other offender, his right to medical care should also be respected and upheld by relevant authorities, given reports of his illness.
According to Mubita, Kambwili’s access to medical attention while in custody is his constitutional right that should not be violated.
“If, as reported, he is unwell, the relevant authorities should ensure that he has access to adequate medical attention while in custody, as it is his constitutional right.”
“The full execution of Kambwili’s sentence, in addition to being a legal requirement, is a crucial lesson that tribalism and hate speech have no place in a democratic society,” added Mubita.
He urged all well-meaning Zambians to respect the court’s decision and support the principle that justice applies equally to all.
LUMEZI TOWN COUNCIL SUES 34 CDF LOAN DEFAULTERS OVER K1.4M ARREARS
LUMEZI, Saturday – The Lumezi Town Council has taken legal action against 34 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) loan defaulters, seeking to recover more than K1.4 million in arrears.
According to the Council, the beneficiaries, who accessed empowerment loans in 2022 and 2023, have defaulted on repayments amounting to K1,463,776.35. Some individuals reportedly owe as much as K90,000, with others having never made a single repayment since receiving the funds.
Council Assistant Public Relations Officer Irvin Muyumbwa confirmed that lawsuits have been filed before the Chipata Subordinate Court through the Local Authority’s Legal Services Unit.
The Council revealed that several efforts were made to engage the beneficiaries, including meetings and demand letters, but many still failed to respond.
Those sued have been given 15 days from the date of being served court summons to settle at least 75 percent of their arrears if they wish to avoid further court proceedings. Defaulters who fail to comply will face full trial.
The Council emphasized that the move serves as a warning to both current and future loan beneficiaries to honour their repayment obligations in order to sustain the government’s empowerment initiative under the CDF programme, which is designed to support SMEs with affordable credit.
COACH ACCUSED OF LEAKING RHODA’S VIDEO AS SHE REVEALS A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM
Zambian sprinter Rhoda Njobvu has accused her coach and former partner of leaking a private sextape involving herself and another female athlete. In an exclusive interview, Njobvu said the coach personally requested the recording and insisted that the video include another athlete with whom he allegedly wanted them to engage in a threesome.
The revelation has raised serious concerns across the athletics fraternity. Under World Athletics and National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) guidelines, romantic relationships between coaches and their athletes are strongly discouraged in order to protect athletes from abuse and exploitation.
The coach admits to having been in a relationship with Njobvu, claiming that he pursued the relationship because he believed his current wife would not be able to care for him in old age as she is uncaring. He says that he considered Njobvu “to have a good heart” and even promised to hand over his life savings to her when he turns 70.
However, he denies leaking the explicit video. He claims it may have been accessed by another athlete after he allegedly handed his phone to them. The athlete he named has denied any involvement in the circulation of the footage.
The coach has since made attempts to contain the situation. In one conversation seen, he offered one of his personal vehicles to a local fixer in an effort to trace how the video found its way into the public domain and to prevent further circulation.
According to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, Njobvu and another athlete, Sergeant Katundu Lumweka, were arrested and jointly charged with one count of Production of Obscene Materials.
Additionally, Njobvu has been charged with Circulation of Obscene Materials. The two women are officers under the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and the Zambia Correctional Service respectively.
“Following investigations, the duo has been jointly charged and arrested for one count of Production of Obscene Materials. Additionally, Ms Njobvu has been charged with a second count of Circulation of Obscene Materials,” Mr Hamoonga said.
Both athletes were later released on police bond and are expected to appear in court. They have since been suspended from national duty.
Njobvu has officially written to the athletics governing body. Two other athletes have claimed that the coach has made similar sexual advances towards them.
The coach has declined to comment after multiple requests.
The National Sports Council of Zambia and World Athletics have not yet issued any official public statements on the matter.
Citizens First (CF) deputy secretary general Dr Mwaba Bota says President Hakainde Hichilema is holding the body of late president Edgar Lungu to ransom.
In an interview yesterday, Bota said she would have loved for President Hichilema to be the second chief mourner behind the widow, on account of the clout he would give the burial, but he should abide by what the family
People can make mistakes but some mistakes can easily be corrected as opposed to this inhuman actions. You can not slaughter 70 cows for that poor farmer in Kalomo just because he did not have a permit to move the animals into another district.
I want to appeal to President HH to help that farmer by giving him back the 70 animals and help him understand the law on the movement of animals. Sometimes our people will make mistakes unknowingly and therefore the first actions on the part of government is to teach them and giving them a second chance.
The action in the picture is not leadership but pure witchcraft and pure evil and when we as THE MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE #ICHABAICHE form government I will not allow our people to be treated like second class citizens when there are other available means to address such shortcomings.The hallmark of leadership is showing love and being empathic to the plight of the people we lead and therefore such actions are not close to leadership but complete madness.
The people of Kalomo, Choma, Namwala and many other towns of the southern province who are animal farmers must be assured that we will treated them better because they deserve better.
My coach wanted a threesome – Rhoda tells on coach
ZAMBIAN sprinter Rhoda Njobvu has accused her coach and former partner of leaking a private sextape involving herself and another female athlete.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AnoAp6xJd/
In an exclusive interview, Njobvu said the coach personally requested the recording and insisted that the video include another athlete with whom he allegedly wanted them to engage in a threesome.
The revelation has raised serious concerns across the athletics fraternity.
Under World Athletics and National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) guidelines, romantic relationships between coaches and their athletes are strongly discouraged in order to protect athletes from abuse and exploitation.
The coach admits to having been in a relationship with Njobvu, claiming that he pursued the relationship because he believed his current wife would not be able to care for him in old age as she is uncaring.
He says that he considered Njobvu “to have a good heart” and even promised to hand over his life savings to her when he turns 70.
However, he denies leaking the explicit video.
He claims it may have been accessed by another athlete after he allegedly handed his phone to them.
The athlete he named has denied any involvement in the circulation of the footage.
The coach has since made attempts to contain the situation. In one conversation seen, he offered one of his personal vehicles to a local fixer in an effort to trace how the video found its way into the public domain and to prevent further circulation.
According to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, Njobvu and another athlete, Sergeant Katundu Lumweka, were arrested and jointly charged with one count of Production of Obscene Materials.
Additionally, Njobvu has been charged with Circulation of Obscene Materials. The two women are officers under the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and the Zambia Correctional Service respectively.
“Following investigations, the duo has been jointly charged and arrested for one count of Production of Obscene Materials. Additionally, Ms Njobvu has been charged with a second count of Circulation of Obscene Materials,” Mr Hamoonga said.
Both athletes were later released on police bond and are expected to appear in court. They have since been suspended from national duty.
Njobvu has officially written to the athletics governing body. Two other athletes have claimed that the coach has made similar sexual advances towards them.
The coach has declined to comment after multiple requests.
The National Sports Council of Zambia and World Athletics have not yet issued any official public statements on the matter…https://kalemba.news/local/my-coach-wanted-a-threesome-rhoda-tells-on-coach/
THE MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND LIVESTOCK ISSUES A STATEMENT ON THE SLAUGHTER OF 70 ANIMALS IN KALOMO
Lusaka, 16 August, 2025
We wish to clarify that the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, through the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), is mandated by the Animal Health Act No. 27 of 2010 to prevent and control livestock diseases.
Among the diseases of national economic importance is the Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) which is a highly contagious and deadly cattle disease. The CBPP primarily attacks the lungs of an animal, leading to severe respiratory illness, high death rates of up to 50%, and devastating economic losses for the Livestock sector.
We wish to reiterate that the Animal Health Act No. 27 of 2010 strictly prohibits the movement of animals from a place known to be infected with CBPP, without a Livestock Movement Permit. Violation of this law attracts serious legal consequences, including confiscation and destruction of the affected animals.
We, therefore, regret to state that seventy (70) live cattle were slaughtered in Kalomo District, Southern Province, after they were illegally moved from a CBBP quarantined area of Moomba in Kazungula District.
The details of the incident are that on 29th and 30th July 2025, the community based CBPP Task Force in Nkandanzovu Veterinary Camp, promptly reported to the Kalomo District Veterinary Office that unknown people were illegally moving cattle from Moomba and surrounding areas in Musokotwane Chiefdom, Kazungula district.
The District Veterinary Office in Kalomo swiftly acted on the report from the CBPP Task Force and impounded 33 cattle in Nakalombwe and another 41 from Shankatwa for moving the animals without a Livestock Movement Permit. Out of the 74 impounded animals, four died in transit to the holding pen in Kalomo.
Ownership of the cattle was traced to Mr. Edify Mulilo and Mr. Lawrence Nsingo who admitted that they had moved the animals from Kazungula district, which is officially restricted for live cattle movement, due to confirmed CBPP cases.
The District Veterinary Office then secured an order from the Kalomo Subordinate Court for disposal of the animals, in accordance with Section 6 of the Animal Health Act No. 27 of 2010.
The owners, through their lawyers, contested the court order and sought for an injunction against the disposal. However, their application for an injunction was thrown out by the court. This gave legal authority to the Department of Veterinary Services to dispose of the animals, as per court order.
We are aware of the public outcry following the legal action. But we wish to clarify that illegal movement of cattle from disease-prone areas, especially CBPP, poses a grave threat to the nation’s livestock health, productivity, and food security. Even animals appearing healthy may be silent carriers, capable of spreading the disease. As such, the law does not provide for quarantining such cattle, therefore, they must be disposed of, to prevent further transmission.
We, therefore, urge all farmers, transporters, and members of the public to stop moving animals illegally from CBPP-prone areas. Livestock movement may only be allowed for animals going to the nearest abattoir for slaughter. This is after thorough animal inspection, testing and issuance of the Livestock Movement Permit.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock remains committed to protecting animal health, securing farmer livelihoods, and preserving the nation’s food security through strict enforcement of animal health laws.
Issued by:
(ORIGINAL COPY SIGNED) Dr. Max M. Choombe Permanent Secretary MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND LIVESTOCK
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA LEADS NATION IN HONOURING LATE PRESIDENT LEVY MWANAWASA AND FORMER FIRST LADY DR. MAUREEN MWANAWASA
LUSAKA — President Hakainde Hichilema joined mourners in a joint memorial service to honour the lives and legacies of the late third President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, and the late former First Lady, Dr. Maureen Kakubo Mwanawasa.
The commemorations began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Embassy Park Presidential Burial Site, where President Hichilema, accompanied by First Lady Mutinta Hichilema, paid tribute to the late President and First Lady.
Together, they signed the book of condolences before joining family members, dignitaries, and citizens in remembering the couple’s lasting contributions to the nation.
The Head of State and the First Lady later proceeded to Twin Palm Baptist Church in Ibex Hill, where a memorial service was held in honour of the two departed leaders.
The service, filled with prayers, music, and tributes, reflected on President Mwanawasa’s steadfast leadership and Dr. Maureen Mwanawasa’s dedication to public service, women’s empowerment, and advocacy.
Rapper Sean Kingston and mother sentenced to 3 and 5 years for $1M fraud!
Rapper Sean Kingston has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of a $1 million fraud scheme in which he and his mother sent victims fake wire receipts for high end merchandise, investigators said.
Kingston and his mother were each convicted in March by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. His mother was sentenced to five years in prison last month.
Kingston rose to fame at age 17 with the 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls,” which sampled Ben E. King’s 1961 song “Stand By Me.”
A Southwest Airlines pilot was escorted off a plane by police just moments before takeoff after TSA agents suspected he was intoxicated.
David Allsop, 52, was arrested in January at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia while preparing to fly Flight 3772 to Chicago. Passengers were already on board when officers entered the cockpit and removed him.
Bodycam footage shows police confronting Allsop on the jet bridge, noting a strong smell of alcohol. Allsop claimed it came from a nicotine pouch and admitted to having “a few beers” the night before — later clarifying that it was three Miller Lites with his first officer, roughly 10 hours earlier.
Newly released bodycam footage shows Southwest pilot who ‘reeked of booze’ being arrested for DUI and escorted off flight moments before takeoff
David Allsop, 52, was arrested for DUI in January at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia
Officers conducted field sobriety tests on the spot. Allsop failed two out of three and refused a blood alcohol test. He was handcuffed, taken from the airport, and booked on DUI charges.
Southwest Airlines confirmed that Allsop has been fired, calling safety their top priority. The Federal Aviation Administration has revoked his pilot’s license, and he now faces potential federal prosecution.
Allsop had flown with Southwest for over 19 years and previously served in the U.S. Air Force’s 50th Airlift Squadron. He has declined public comment.
Far-right Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating whether power companies’ diversity and climate policies were responsible for wildfires, Newsweek reported Friday.
Paxton “has launched an investigation into several utility companies linked to last year’s destructive Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires, stating that they ‘possibly’ prioritized environmental, social, and governance (ESG) or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agendas over safety and necessary maintenance,” said the report. Paxton’s civil investigative letters were sent out to Xcel Energy and its subsidiary, Southwestern Public Services Company, as well as Osmose Utilities Services.
The Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest wildfire in the history of Texas, burned over one million acres, left two people and 15,000 livestock dead, destroyed 100 homes, and caused an estimated $123 million in damage. It was caused when a utility pole run by Xcel Energy broke, bringing live wires into contact with dry grass.
Paxton proclaimed in his statement that the targeted companies “may have acted negligently by failing to conduct necessary infrastructure maintenance and possibly prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (‘ESG’) or diversity, equity, and inclusion (‘DEI’) agendas over safety.”
Paxton, who is currently challenging Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP Senate primary, did not elaborate on how diversity or climate policies could have contributed to the fires.
However, it is in line with his efforts to threaten and intimidate companies doing business in Texas against operating with such policies. Last month, Rolling Stone reporter Lauren Windsor obtained a secret recording of one of Paxton’s top assistants bragging to oil executives that his office was using the threat of antitrust litigation and a shutdown of bond markets to jawbone Wells Fargo and other top banks to leave the global Net Zero Banking Alliance and reduce investment in clean energy.
A Democratic senator flagged a moment between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that made his “stomach turn.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Armed Services Committee, joined Anderson Cooper on CNN on Friday night following the conclusion of a Trump-Putin summit that many observers felt amounted to a giant “nothing burger.”
Blumenthal shared that view.
“Senator, I mean, I’ve asked this question to a lot of people, but you have seen a lot of these kinds of summits. Did anything come out of this in your mind?” asked Cooper.
“Nothing came out of this summit. It was a nothing burger. It was a shrug of the shoulders,” Blumenthal replied.
But Blumenthal said one moment stood out to him.
“Senator, I mean, I’ve asked this question to a lot of people, but you have seen a lot of these kinds of summits. Did anything come out of this in your mind?” asked Cooper.
“Nothing came out of this summit. It was a nothing burger. It was a shrug of the shoulders,” Blumenthal replied.
But Blumenthal said one moment stood out to him.
“But I will tell you, Anderson, my stomach turned when I heard the president of the United States characterize Vladimir Putin as his fabulously good friend,” he said. “Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. He has directed soldiers to kill women and children and bury them in mass graves. He’s kidnapped children as we speak. The reality on the ground is that people are bleeding and dying all around Ukraine because Putin is continuing to bomb them. And at the front, he’s continuing to pummel the brave Ukrainian soldiers who are defending the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the town of Pokrovsk.”
Blumenthal said the reason there’s no ceasefire and no deal is that Putin didn’t want one.
“He doesn’t want peace. The only way to convince him to stop this diplomatic rope-a-dope, playing the president and delaying any kind of ceasefire, is through strength.”
He called for arming Ukraine with the interceptors for their Patriot systems — and giving them more of them — as well as more missiles, long-range artillery, and “scorching sanctions.”
Blumenthal and Cooper threw Trump’s words back at him.
“It seems like, if there were going to be some consequences or ‘severe consequences,’ he could have said something to that effect to Vladimir Putin face-to-face,” said Cooper.
Blumenthal agreed.
“You’re absolutely right. He could have said face-to-face, ‘There will be severe consequences.’ We’ll never know — at least for now, in the short term — whether there was any kind of threat, veiled or otherwise,” he lamented.
He said he hopes the world’s reaction to the “optics triumph for Vladimir Putin will enrage Donald Trump, or at least annoy him enough that he will support more sales of the military.”
He also called for “crippling” Putin’s economy by placing sanctions against China, India, and Brazil to push them to stop buying Russian oil and gas.
“The way to stop fueling that war machine is through bone-crushing sanctions,” he said, touting his bill that would do just that, and has the support of 85 senators.
President Donald Trump wasn’t the only one shrugging off his high-stakes summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with observers also noting it sounded like a big “nothing burger.”
Trump met Friday afternoon with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss ending the invasion of Ukraine. Putin claimed he and Trump came to an agreement to “pave the path to peace in Ukraine,” but didn’t reveal what the agreement entails.
Trump appeared less rosy about the outcome, adding: “We haven’t quite got there, but we’ve got some headway. There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
After a short press conference in which no questions were taken, Trump shrugged off CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins and gave a half-smile when she flashed him a “thumbs-up” signal.
“Clearly not the expectation that President Trump was hoping for when he came here,” she concluded.
The internet seemed to come to the same conclusion.
Max Seddon, Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, wrote on X, “Wow – Trump and Putin made short statements, then left without taking any questions. Wasn’t expecting that. Not unusual for Putin but very out of character for Trump.”
Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for Financial Times, wrote on X, “Sounds like no ceasefire and no deal. A nothinburger? Could be a lot worse.”
Shashank Joshi, defense editor at The Economist, said he found it “notable that Putin was the one who felt the need to play up the firmness of the deal, and that Trump, who is ordinarily desperate to be liked & to be seen to have won, played it down.”
“Doesn’t mean that pressure on Russia is coming, of course,” added Joshi.
Stephen Sestanovich, senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote on X, “Big question about a nothing burger is whether it’s followed by more US pressure on Russia or more US pressure on Ukraine. Or by nothing—the ‘good luck’ that Trump said would be his way of washing his hands of the problem?”
Bryan Dean Wright, a former CIA operations officer, wrote on X: “Trump / Putin upshot: Phase One as expected… A public demonstration that peace is on the table. Early terms of a ceasefire negotiated. Ultimate foundation of final peace deal considered. Now, Phase Two… Europe reacts, counters. Then we see if peace talks are real or delay tactic.”
Julia Davis, columnist for the Daily Beast, questioned on X, “So, will there be ‘severe consequences’? Of course not.”
She slammed a White House social media post calling the meeting “historic.”
President Zelensky says he has had a “long and substantive” conversation with President Trump – first one-on-one and then with European leaders.
In a written statement, Zelensky says the Ukrainian and US presidents spoke for about an hour one-on-one.
The statement is relatively short on substance but very rich on positive sentiment – a reflection of Ukraine’s recent efforts to maintain good relations with Trump after the two leaders’ disastrous Oval Office meeting in February.
Ukrainians were deeply unhappy to be left out of the summit in Alaska, and Zelensky emphasises in the statement that all three leaders should be present for the next round of talks.
He also stresses the importance of European leaders being present “at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America”.
The presence of European leaders is seen by many Ukrainians as a bulwark against the possibility of Trump – who is known to be susceptible to flattery – being influenced by Putin.
Trump wanted to walk out of the summit with agreement from Putin on a ceasefire – the same demand he has made of him since March.
But he didn’t get it. He says he got progress, but would not say what or how.
So, as the war’s architect, Putin got an effective American embrace, a red carpet welcome and presidential applause.
Trump, in return, got nothing to present as a tangible achievement. The summit, then, amounts to a clear win for Putin.
The Russian president also used the moment to warn the Europeans not to throw a “wrench” into his ties with Trump.
That was his attempt to sharpen divisions between the Trump administration and America’s European allies – something he has tried to leverage repeatedly under Trump.
But he went further still. In an extraordinary statement, he echoed Trump’s long-stated claim that the war would not have happened if Trump had been president (rather than his predecessor, Joe Biden).
Putin will know this taps directly into Trump’s false claim, that still resonates with much of his base, that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him.
In a few quick sentences Putin, on US soil, was using the stage provided him by Trump to exploit and deepen the divisions between the US and Europe – and those within America itself.
European leaders say they’re ready to work towards a trilateral summit
A group of European leaders has published a joint statement following talks this morning with Trump and Zelensky, saying that the “next step must now be further talks including President Zelensky”.
The leaders say they are “ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support”.
“We stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia,” the statement says, adding that “Ukraine can count on our unwavering solidarity as we work towards a peace that safeguards Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests”.
“It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force,” the statement continues, adding that the leaders are “determined to do more to keep Ukraine strong in order to achieve an end to the fighting and a just and lasting peace”.
The joint statement comes from:
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says that “President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before” to ending the war in Ukraine.
In a statement, he says the next steps must involve Zelensky – and that peace cannot be decided without him.
Here is his statement in full:
President Trump’s efforts have brought us closer than ever before to ending Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. His leadership in pursuit of an end to the killing should be commended.
While progress has been made, the next step must be further talks involving President Zelenskyy. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him.
This morning, I spoke to President Zelenskyy, President Trump and other European partners, and we all stand ready to support this next phase.
I welcome the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any deal. This is important progress and will be crucial in deterring Putin from coming back for more.
In the meantime, until he stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions, which have already had a punishing impact on the Russian economy and its people.
Our unwavering support for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes.
Francis Kapwepwe, widely known as “Why Me”, appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He is facing three charges, including one count of hate speech.
The central truth we must hold onto is this: HE IS ALIVE. In recent months, a cloud of rumors and false reports suggested otherwise, stirring unnecessary fear and confusion. His appearance in court should bring relief, gratitude, and above all, a reminder of the value of truth in public discourse
I have often been critical of the UPND government, and I continue to have serious disagreements with its approach on many issues. Yet, integrity demands that I acknowledge what is right when it is done. By ensuring that Francis Kapwepwe’s life was preserved and that he has been brought before a competent court of law, the government has shown a measure of decency and respect for the rule of law. In this instance, it deserves commendation.
I may not know the circumstances in which he was brought into Zambia from his hiding spot in Zimbabwe but we are grateful for his life.
Equally, those who spread false claims of his death owe the public an apology. To mislead citizens on a matter as sensitive as the life of a fellow human being is not only reckless but irresponsible as it breaches the trust and integrity our society depends upon. We must learn to handle such matters with sobriety, truth, and responsibility.
This moment is bigger than politics. It is about affirming the sanctity of life and the importance of due process. Whatever charges Francis Kapwepwe faces, justice must run its course in the courtroom not in the rumor mill.
He acted humble and pretended to be interested in dialogue. He is not. He wants to show his skills and sell himself in a bigger court. Ati please adjourn to Monday because parties are talking.
Meanwhile his partners and juniors at the office were busy typing a 72 paged application to the Constitutional Court. They needed time to finish and file. Hence the High Court needed to be distracted.
Government was not aware but verily believed that the Rasta man meant well. They forgot who his client was. If the family wanted dialogue, why did they fire white lawyer and bring in new one? The message was clear and govt team should have seen this.
Surely someone should have asked where these talks were taking place from and who was attending on behalf of government. He clearly won this round by sharp practice.
The current truth is that, this matter has now moved from the High Court to the Constitutional court. The High Court will make no decision on Monday but will say, we await decision of the Constitutional Court.
It is the constitutional court that will decide to either dismiss the request to appeal or to actually entertain it.
Key question: are those negotiations going on right now ????
THE LIVING WAITING FOR THE DECEASED TO PROVIDE PLAN B!!
REACTION TO DR. CHRIS ZUMANI’S 12 REASONS
A NATIONAL LEADERSHIP DEFICIT…
I have read Dr. Zumani’s 12 reasons why the Tonse Alliance should continue to subject itself to the Lungu family for Zambia’s opposition leadership directions for 2026.
When did Zambia become a monarchy for leadership hierarchical identifications,endorsements?
When a man of Dr. Zumani’s credentials suggests that the opposition – TONSE pause it’s leadership identification processes till burial of our beloved ECL in the 21st century and gets no citizen’s intellectual intercourse then we got to worry as a people.
The Bible is very clear on how, the living must interact with the dead…
Zambia’s destiny should not be put on hold or tied to political families – no offence to the ECL’s Estate and or legacy but that is just the truth and reality of life
.
Dr. Zumani stated that ECL was Tonse and Tonse was ECL, unfortunately ECL is no more what then can we say about Tonse’s existence if the opposition has to wait and depend on the plan from a person who is no more?
In Bemba we say pafwa bantu pashala bantu.. Meaning that there has to be continuity in life when death strikes.
ECL’s ran his race very very very very very very well
2 Timothy 4:7
What policy directions are the contenders of 2026 general elections discussing
Living Depending on a Dead Person’s Plan for Political Affairs
In governance and political decision-making, the plans or intentions of a deceased person wouldn’t be directly guiding current political affairs.
Governance by Living Leaders
Political decisions are typically made by living leaders based on current circumstances, laws, and the needs of the constituents and or country
Legacy and Influence
A deceased leader’s policies, ideals, or legacy might influence current politicians or decisions, but the living leaders make the actual decisions.
Current Context Matters
Political decisions usually prioritize current needs, challenges, and the will of the living constituents.
Legal and Ethical Boundaries
Governance is bound by laws, ethics, and the constitution of a country, rather than the plans of a deceased individual.
Isaiah 8:19 encourages us to seek guidance from God rather than the dead.
AMBASSADOR MWAMBA URGES CEASEFIRE IN LUNGU FUNERAL DISPUTE AMIDST TALKS
By Brian Matambo, Sandton, South Africa
Emmanuel Mwamba, the former Zambian ambassador and prominent political commentator, has called for “guns to fall silent” in the escalating dispute over the burial of late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, urging both the Zambian government and the Lungu family to create space for dignified negotiations.
Speaking on his EMV Tonight broadcast of August 15, Mwamba said Friday’s proceedings at the Pretoria High Court, an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, ended with both sides agreeing to adjourn until Monday to explore a potential out-of-court resolution. “We pray these talks succeed,” he told viewers, “and that they begin as soon as possible.”
The dispute centers on the Zambian government’s push to repatriate the late president’s remains from South Africa for an immediate state funeral, against the family’s insistence that the current political climate cannot guarantee a “decent and dignified burial.” One of the family’s conditions is that President Hakainde Hichilema not be involved in the funeral proceedings, a demand the government has rejected.
TWO LEGAL FRONTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Mwamba explained that the matter is now before two top South African courts. The Gauteng High Court case deals with whether the family may appeal the earlier judgment ordering repatriation. The Constitutional Court is hearing a separate application on burial rights, specifically, who has legal custody of the remains and the authority to conduct the funeral.
“This is not an unclaimed body,” Mwamba stressed. “It has a widow, children, and grandchildren.” He cited South African precedents where families successfully excluded sitting presidents from state funerals, arguing that similar sensitivities should be respected here.
CALLS FOR RESTRAINT
Drawing on his diplomatic experience, Mwamba appealed for restraint. “In negotiations, when blood is spilling on the front line, the first step is a ceasefire,” he said. “But our friends never do a ceasefire. Instead, the insults continue, the attacks continue, even as talks are proposed.”
He warned that the family’s distrust of government promises was deepened by what they see as attempts to “close the doors” once the body is in Zambia. That suspicion, he added, was not helped by reports of government demands to inspect and verify the body.
NEW LEGAL FIREPOWER FOR THE FAMILY
The Lungu family has enlisted prominent South African constitutional lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC, known for his role in the State Capture Inquiry and other high-profile cases. Mwamba described Ngcukaitobi’s arrival as a significant development, given his reputation for strategic litigation.
OTHER ISSUES ON THE BROADCAST Mwamba also touched on other national stories:
Businesswoman and banker Dolika Banda’s reported interest in the Zambian presidency, noting her distinguished career and ties to the late President Rupiah Banda.
The reappearance of blogger Francis “Why Me” Kapwe in court after an alleged three-month abduction, during which he was widely reported dead. Mwamba questioned the police’s denial of custody and highlighted ongoing legal action over his disappearance.
Criticism of government economic growth claims, echoing economist Dr Grieve Chelwa’s assertion that official statistics mask deep structural problems, high living costs, and widespread load-shedding.
ALL OF US AGREE HE MUST BE BURIED IN ZAMBIA
Despite the legal and political battles, Mwamba said there is consensus on one point: “All of us want the late president to be buried in Zambia.” The real question, he said, is when, and under what conditions.
Until that is resolved, Mwamba argued, both sides should pull back their media surrogates, end public hostilities, and focus on building the trust necessary to reach a lasting agreement.
Lungu repatriation case goes to SA’s highest court
THE family of late former president Edgar Lungu has taken their fight over his repatriation and burial to South Africa’s Constitutional Court, asking judges to stop his body from being repatriated to Zambia for a state funeral.
Yesterday, former First Lady Esther Lungu and six other family members filed an urgent application to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court.
The family wants the highest court to cancel the Pretoria High Court order made last week Friday, which allowed the Zambian government to repatriate Lungu’s body
In an affidavit, the family said burial arrangements were a deeply personal and private family matter, protected by the right to dignity and privacy under South African law.
Esther argued that no family should be forced to bury a loved one according to the state’s wishes.
She also revealed that Lungu himself wanted a private burial and had made his wishes clear before his death on June 5, 2025.
According to the affidavit, the former president said he did not want “those who did not care for him while he was still alive” to attend his funeral and specifically did not want President Hakainde Hichilema to attend or speak at the service.
“President Lungu expressed his wishes and made it clear that if he were to pass on he did not want those who did not care for him while he was still alive to be “anywhere near his body,” read the affidavit.
“It was his wish that the current President of Zambia, President Hichilema, amongst others, should not attend his funeral nor speak at the funeral. This was informed by the estranged relationship between President Lungu and the current.”
The family’s Constitutional Court application asks for the matter to be treated urgently, for permission to appeal directly to the highest court and for the Pretoria High Court’s ruling to be overturned.
They are also asking the court to order any respondent who opposes the application to pay legal costs.
The applicants are Esther Lungu, her children, Tasila, Dalitso and Chiyeso Lungu, along with Lungu’s sister Bertha, nephew, Charles Phiri and lawyer Makebi Zulu.
The respondents are the Government of the Republic of Zambia, Two Mountains Burial Services (Pty) Ltd and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
When the matter came up yesterday in the Pretoria High Court, the Lungu family’s lawyer, padvocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC, told the court that the family was in talks with the Zambian government to find a possible agreement.
Both sides agreed to delay the hearing of the appeal to Monday, August 18, 2025, to give negotiations a chance.
The High Court has set that date for the hearing, saying it hopes the dispute can be resolved in a way that respects the wishes of all sides.
Lungu died in South Africa on June 5, 2025 after being hospitalised there.
Attorney General Cannot Represent Speaker of the National Assembly -LAZ Lawyer
These submissions are filed on behalf of the Petitioner in support of the Notice of Motion seeking an order that the Attorney General is not competent to represent the Speaker of the National Assembly in these proceedings, and that the Speaker should instead be represented by counsel appointed independently by the National Assembly or the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The matter arises from a Petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Speaker’s ruling of 9 July 2025, which permitted the continuation of the legislative process for the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025,notwithstanding the binding judgment of this Honourable Court delivered on 27 June 2025.
The Petition squarely raises questions of constitutional compliance in the conduct of parliamentary business.
The representation issue is not procedural minutiae. It goes to the heart of the separation of powers, institutional independence, and the structural integrity of our constitutional order.
Where the acts of the Legislature are under judicial scrutiny, the Constitution requires that the Legislature defends those acts in its own voice,free from Executive influence, actual or perceived.
The Attorney General, by constitutional design, is the principal legal adviser to the Executive and a Cabinet-facing officer.
The constitutional and statutory framework, particularly Articles 62, 77, and 177 of the Constitution, and the State Proceedings Act, confine the Attorney General’s representational mandate to the Government as litigant, not to the Legislature acting in its own institutional capacity.
These submissions will show that neither the Constitution nor the governing statutes authorise the Attorney General to act for the Speaker in a matter of this kind; that the arrangement poses a structural conflict of interest; there is need to affirm distinct representation of each branch of Government when its acts are subject to constitutional review
These submissions are filed on behalf of the Petitioner in support of the Notice of Motion seeking an order that the Attorney General is not competent to represent the Speaker of the National Assembly in these proceedings, and that the Speaker should instead be represented by counsel appointed independently by the National Assembly or the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The matter arises from a Petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Speaker’s ruling of 9 July 2025, which permitted the continuation of the legislative process for the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025,notwithstanding the binding judgment of this Honourable Court delivered on 27 June 2025.
The Petition squarely raises questions of constitutional compliance in the conduct of parliamentary business.
The representation issue is not procedural minutiae. It goes to the heart of the separation of powers, institutional independence, and the structural integrity of our constitutional order.
Where the acts of the Legislature are under judicial scrutiny,the Constitution requires that the Legislature defends those acts in its own voice,free from Executive influence, actual or perceived.
The Attorney General, by constitutional design, is the principal legal adviser to the Executive and a Cabinet-facing officer.
The constitutional and statutory framework,particularly Articles 62, 77, and 177 of the Constitution, and the State Proceedings Act, confine the Attorney General’s representational mandate to the Government as litigant, not to the Legislature acting in its own institutional capacity.
These submissions will show that neither the Constitution nor the governing statutes authorise the Attorney General to act for the Speaker in a matter of this kind; that the arrangement poses a structural conflict of interest; there is need to affirm distinct representation of each branch of Government when its acts are subject to constitutional review
A declaration that the Attorney-General, being an Executive office-holder and the principal legal adviser to the Government under Article 177 of the Constitution, is not competent to represent the Speaker of the National Assembly in these proceedings, the same being litigation that concerns the constitutionality of a parliamentary ruling and the internal legislative process.
A further declaration that, in proceedings where the constitutionality of acts or rulings of the Speaker are directly in issue, the proper and constitutionally compliant course is for the Speaker to be represented by counsel appointed independently by,and accountable solely to, the National Assembly through its authorised mechanisms, such as the Parliamentary Service Commission.
An order directing the Speaker of the National Assembly to secure and instruct independent legal representation, distinct from the Attorney-General or any other law officer of the Executive branch, for the conduct of this matter. An order for costs in the cause
Lungu family Constitutional Court appeal doesn’t stop High Court’s order – Simuuwe
THE application by the family of late former president Edgar Lungu to the Constitutional Court of South Africa has not yet set aside the Pretoria High Court ruling on Lungu’s burial and repatriation, UPND media director Mark Simuuwe has clarified.
Simuuwe said the court filing was merely an application seeking to cancel the High Court’s decision that allowed Lungu’s remains to be repatriated to Zambia.
He explained that such an application is not in itself a decision of the court and can either be dismissed outright, entertained or heard inter partes (between both parties).
“This is just an application and filing in alone does not set aside the judgement of the High Court aside; in other words, it is a “desire”, of the applicant, unless the court makes a pronouncement in the affirmative or in favour of the desire of the applicants (ECL family),” said Simuuwe.
He stated that until the Constitutional Court rules otherwise, the High Court judgment remains binding.
The Lungu family yesterday lodged the urgent application, arguing against the order for the former president’s body’s repatriation, but the matter is yet to be heard.
“Why Me” in Court, Hate Speech Case Overshadowed by PF-Linked Death Rumours
Popular comedian of insults, Francis Kapwepwe, known as “Why Me,” appeared before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on charges of hate speech and expressing or showing hatred, which are offences under Zambian law. Kapwepwe has built a controversial reputation for openly insulting public officers, including the President, Members of Parliament, police officers, and other authorities in his social media videos.
The case, presided over by Magistrate Mungala, could not proceed to plea as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has yet to give the required consent. The matter has been adjourned to 26 August 2025.
The case has been clouded by misinformation from PF-linked figures such as Emmanuel Mwamba, Miles Sampa, and Lilian Mutambo, who falsely claimed Kapwepwe had died in police custody.
Authorities quickly dismissed these rumours, highlighting the need for the public to be cautious about trusting politically motivated sources.
The Zambian government’s intelligence and security services have maintained a record of handling sensitive matters with discretion and fact-checking, a stark contrast to the reckless spread of falsehoods on social media.
Mr. Hakainde Hichilema has really lost it. It doesn’t require much intelligence – if a little is all one has – to know that Bloomberg doesn’t generate or originate statistics on Zambia.
Bloomberg cannot “confirm” Zambia’s growth numbers. They are not our statistical agency!
This just goes to show how low the calibre of our leadership is. They are losing it. If he wants the correct figure, let him refer to our statistical agency! Zambia’s economy is not growing at all.
CAN THE LUNGU FAMILY TRUST A GOVERNMENT OF LIES AND PROPAGANDA?
Today, the Lungu family won a small victory — the planned burial of His Excellency Edgar Lungu, against the family’s will, has been postponed pending appeal. But the fight is far from over.
Madam Esther Lungu, your right to bury your husband according to traditional customs, Christian values, and international law is not negotiable. Articles 1, 2, 7, and 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stand firmly on your side.
But let us be honest: You are facing a government that has broken promises at every turn. • A government that lied its way into power with a 10-point plan, only to abandon integrity once inside State House. • A government that exports electricity for profit while discriminates among citizens who get power or suffer load-shedding . • A government that exports mealie meal abroad while Zambians pay inflated prices for their staple food.
• A government that abducted whyme across border and denied it — until he appeared in court today. • A government that breached a burial agreement you made in good faith with respected people.
If they broke their word before, what makes you think they won’t do it again?
This is not just about honoring ECL BUT ALSO RESPECTING THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF A WIDOW. It is about the dignity of a former First Lady, the honor of a family, and the principle of justice for all Zambians.
The question remains: Can you trust a government built on lies and propaganda?
Mwanawasa family holds joint memorial for Levy and Maureen!
The Mwanawasa family are today holding a joint memorial service for the late Third Republican President Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and former First Lady, Dr. Maureen Kakubo Mwanawasa, at Twinpalm Baptist Church in Lusaka.
Dr. Mwanawasa, who served as Zambia’s third President, passed away on 19th August 2008 while in office while his wife Dr. Maureen died on 13th August 2024.
With their anniversaries falling just days apart, the family resolved to honour them together in a joint memorial service.
We have noted the statement by Mr. Kelvin Fube Bwalya, leader of the Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) party, regarding Cabinet’s approval to export 501,620.61 tonnes of surplus maize and mealie meal.
While we appreciate the sober tone adopted in Mr. Bwalya’s remarks, we are concerned that his statement deliberately omits an important fact, that this surplus is the direct result of the United Party for National Development (UPND)’s sound agricultural policies and strategic interventions over the past four years.
It is indeed the legitimate role of the opposition to provide checks and balances to the ruling party and government. We therefore acknowledge that the issues raised by Mr. Bwalya fall within the bounds of democratic exchange.
In this regard, we particularly welcome his affirmation that “ZMP supports trade that enhances our economy and strengthens regional cooperation.” This marks a refreshing and constructive departure from the rancour and acrimony that too often dominate political discourse.
We believe it is possible for Zambia to embrace a new era of politics, one in which an elected government coexists with a loyal opposition. A “loyal opposition” is not subservient, but offers alternative perspectives grounded in facts, guided by civility, and committed to the nation’s progress.
Mr. Bwalya and the ZMP must therefore be assured that the UPND, as a responsible government, is fully open to any independent verification of the country’s maize stock levels.
The national maize stock figures we have released are accurate. Zambia’s annual maize requirement for human consumption, livestock feed, industrial use, and strategic reserves stands at 3.5 million metric tonnes. The half a million tonnes approved for export is therefore a well-considered figure, arrived at through careful analysis.
It is regrettable, however, that Mr. Bwalya has chosen to cast doubt on the authenticity of the declared surplus without offering any credible evidence. We challenge him to present verifiable data to support his claims. Opposition leaders have a duty to provide accurate information to the public. Misleading or misinforming citizens is not only illiberal but also counterproductive, particularly on a matter as critical as national food security.
Misinformation creates market distortions, enabling millers and traders to exploit consumers. By contrast, correct and credible information strengthens market integrity, protects consumers, and ensures price stability.
Let it be clear, only an irresponsible government would export itself into a food shortage. The export permit regime under the Ministry of Agriculture operates under stringent and transparent protocols, and any interested party is free to review or engage with these procedures.
As the governing party, the UPND reaffirms its full support for the government’s pro-business approach to agriculture. We remain committed to transparency, fiscal discipline, and policies that safeguard national food security while fostering economic growth.
USHIS OF LUAPULA PROVINCE OPPOSE CHIEF CHISUNKA’S UNILATERAL MOVE TO INTRODUCE NEW TRADITIONAL CEREMONY
Twelve out of 13 Ushi traditional leaders and their subjects, have opposed maneuvers by former House of Chiefs Chairperson, Chief Chisunka of Mansa, to unilaterally introduce a new Ceremony called Mutuna Mpanga, scheduled to take place on 27th September 2025.
The traditional leaders have also advised Vice President Mutale Nalumango not to accept the invitation as guest of honour as the move will be viewed to be divisive among the Ushi people of Luapula Province.
Speaking to KBN TV in a walk in interview, a concerned Ushi representative, Mr. Bernard Kanika, said the formation of Mutuna Mpanga Ceremony, goes against the unity of the Ushi people and their culture, which they have celebrated as one over the years under the banner of Chabuka Nesandulula of Makumba traditional ceremony.
He said the new Ceremony does not represent the wider aspirations of the Twelve Ushi Chiefs and their People.
“For the reasons advanced, we the Ushi people demand that the planned Mutuna Mpanga Ceremony should be stopped henceforth. Failure to do so, will compel us to seek legal redress to stop it,” he said.
For more details, catch the KBN TV main news at 19:30hrs
BOZ GOVERNOR FORESEES GREAT BENEFITS TO ORGANISED GOLD MINING
Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor Dr Denny Kalyalya has reaffirmed the importance of organised gold mining as a strategic opportunity for Zambia’s economic development.
Speaking at the Manenga Ndulo Conference on Economic Development hosted by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR), Dr Kalyalya observed that Zambia has yet to take meaningful strides in formalising its gold mining and trading activities.
He noted that doing so could unlock significant national benefits, particularly for small-scale and artisanal miners.
Since 2020, the Bank has purchased gold worth approximately 350 million kwacha from companies such as First Quantum Minerals.
Dr Kalyalya explained that while gold mining near copper deposits presents promising opportunities, refining is essential for the Bank to purchase the commodity.
He reiterated the need to transact in kwacha to ensure programme viability and sustainability.
The Bank is currently working with government to support small-scale miners, aiming to improve practices and protect miners from exploitation.
Dr Kalyalya highlighted the risks associated with unsustainable mining methods, child labour, and market vulnerabilities. He observed that without proper organisation, artisanal miners remain susceptible to exploitation by middlemen who undervalue their gold—ultimately undermining Zambia’s ability to benefit from its natural resources.
The event was supported by the Government of Ireland’s International Development Programme.
Dr Kalyalya also paid tribute to Professor Manenga Ndulo, describing him as one of Africa’s most respected economists and public intellectuals.
He credited Prof Ndulo’s work with shaping Zambia’s economic thought and contributing to regional development.
The two-day conference convened leading voices to reflect on Prof Ndulo’s legacy and chart the future of African economic development.
Democratic Union Commends ECZ Stakeholder Engagement Ahead of 2026 Elections
The Democratic Union (DU) has expressed satisfaction with the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s (ECZ) recent engagement with stakeholders on preparations for the 2026 general elections.
DU Secretary General Kaunda Phiri attended the stakeholders meeting held on 15 August at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. The meeting aimed to update political parties and other stakeholders on the ECZ’s election roadmap and new voter registration technologies.
Phiri described the engagement as “important and engaging,” highlighting its role in promoting transparency in the upcoming elections. “We received updates on the election roadmap, including the overall plan and timeline for the 2026 general elections, with key milestones and deadlines,” he said.
The DU Secretary General also commended the ECZ’s voter registration publicity initiatives, which will leverage community meetings, door-to-door campaigns, infotainment, and media outreach to ensure broad public awareness. “The engagement demonstrated ECZ’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” Phiri added.
In his remarks, ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zalomis welcomed the Democratic Union’s active participation in recent by-elections, including those in Petauke and Pambashe, despite the party being only a few months old.
Phiri reaffirmed the DU’s commitment to participating in future elections as the party sets its sights on forming government in 2026 with Ackim Antony Njobvu as its presidential candidate.
“The Democratic Union will continue engaging in the electoral process and ensuring that our party and supporters are well represented as we prepare for the 2026 elections,” he said.
Banker Thom Mpinganjira is now believed to be the richest person in Malawi and the only dollar billionaire in the Southern African country.
His rise to billionaire status is due to an increase in his indirect stake in FDH Bank Plc. His investment firm, M Development, holds 55 percent of FDH Financial Holdings, which owns 74.05% of FDH Bank, according to Billionaires.Africa.
This gives Mpinganjira indirect control of more than 2.81 billion shares, which is about 40.73 percent of the company, the outlet noted. Per the latest valuation, that stake is worth MWK 1.94 trillion ($1.12 billion), up from MWK 416.6 billion ($240.5 million) at the start of the year.
This $878.9 million rise in value is linked to the surge in FDH Bank’s stock price on the Malawi Stock Exchange. According to Billionaires. Africa, “the shares have risen 365 percent this year, from MWK 148.23 ($0.085) in January to MWK 689.99 ($0.398), lifting the bank’s market capitalization to MWK 4.76 trillion ($2 billion) and making it the most valuable publicly traded company in the country.”
An accountant turned entrepreneur, Mpinganjira set up the Malawi Stock Exchange in 2000, served as its first CEO, and in 2008 opened his own commercial bank, FDH Bank, headquartered in Blantyre, Malawi’s second-biggest city, according to Accounting and Business magazine.
Before launching his company, Mpinganjira worked at Deloitte and made contacts during his five-year stay with the firm.
He also had a couple of corporate accounting roles and a risk management position at a bank. This would expose him to Malawi’s burgeoning capital market, and he would waste no time in reaping the benefits as an early adopter.
“I was ahead of everybody because I had initially worked for the National Bank of Malawi, the largest bank in the country,” he said, according to Accounting and Business magazine.
He recalled a Deloitte partner telling him of an opening in a new financial institution, and his conversation led him to become Malawi’s first stockbroker with Stockbrokers Malawi, which set up the Malawi Stock Exchange in 2000. He was appointed as the boss, and he subsequently launched FDH Bank.
“I was able to network with a lot of contacts, both in south-east Africa and internationally,” he said. “This experience also introduced me to many business concepts in the financial sector.”
Mpinganjira leveraged the knowledge and experience he had acquired to make plans to set up a financial services business. He opened First Discount House in 2002, and it became a subsidiary of FDH Financial Holdings as part of a group restructuring exercise in 2007, when he also acquired a license for FDH Bank.
As of 2020, FDH Bank boasted a network of 53 branches and 91 automated teller machines strategically positioned across all 27 districts of the country, according to Billionaires.Africa. The bank has grown into one of the leading groups in Malawi’s financial services industry.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, Mpinganjira’s FDH Financial Holdings, with interests in banking, discount house operations, investment management, and advisory services, funded the refurbishment of a children’s intensive care unit at a hospital in southern Malawi. FDH has also helped colleges with computing and communication equipment, and in March 2024, Mpinganjira built a cancer hospital in honor of his late wife.
Thanks to Mpinganjira, Malawi may have also joined the few countries in Africa with at least one billionaire. The Africa Wealth Report 2023 by Henley & Partners found that the “Big 5” wealth markets in Africa, namely South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco, together account for 56% of Africa’s high-net-worth individuals and over 90% of the continent’s billionaires.
The list of African billionaires published by Forbes in 2024 saw South Africa emerge with the highest number of billionaires.
Global rankings such as Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaire Index have yet to name Malawi as the latest country with a dollar billionaire.
HIGH RANKING ARMY OFFICER UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ASSAULTING TOUR GUIDE IN LIVINGSTONE
Investigations have been launched after a yet-to-be-named high-ranking uniformed army officer in Livingstone reportedly assaulted a tour guide in the presence of eight Italian tourists.
The incident occurred on 9th August 2025, around 18:00 hours, with the victim identified as Nicolas Mumbi, 45, of Dambwa North, the Director of Nick Travel and Tours.
Mumbi sustained a swollen and painful head, a painful neck, and a painful right eye.
On the material day, the complainant was driving a white Toyota Coaster from the airport to Ngoma Zanga Lodge with eight Italian tourists on board.
As he approached Zest business premises and attempted to turn right from the inner lane, he heard sudden braking from behind from a gold Toyota Fortuner which had been following him, before it moved ahead and stopped directly in front of the victim.
The uniformed military officer disembarked from the Toyota Fortuner, forcibly opened the complainant’s door — damaging the locking mechanism — and slapped him as well as used fists whilst accusing him of dangerous driving.
Southern Province Commissioner of Police, Auxensio Daka, noted that the incident occurred in full view of the tourists on board, some of whom screamed and cried out of fear.
Daka said the suspect then returned to his vehicle and drove away, while the victim proceeded to the lodge, dropped off his clients, and later reported the matter to the police, where a medical report form was issued.
Stephanie Diane Dowells, a 62-year-old African American woman from California who was visiting her husband in prison, died overnight in November 2024. Authorities say her husband strangled her and is now facing a murder charge.
On November 13, 2024, just after 2 a.m., David Brinson called prison staff at Mule Creek State Prison to say his wife had passed out. Officers began life-saving efforts and called 911, but Dowells was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.
According to People, an autopsy determined she died from strangulation, and her death was ruled a homicide. Brinson, 55, was charged with murder on August 13, 2025, according to Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe. He is scheduled for arraignment on September 19 and has not yet entered a plea.
Dowells, a hairdresser, lived in Inglewood with her son, daughter-in-law, and young grandson. Her family declined to comment, but their attorney, Michael Oppenheimer, released a statement thanking prosecutors for pursuing the case and calling her killing preventable.
Brinson has been serving four consecutive life sentences without parole since 1993 for killing four men during a robbery.
Dowells’ death was the second killing during a family visit at Mule Creek State Prison in 2024. In July, Tania Thomas, 47, was killed while visiting her husband, Anthony Curry, who was later charged with her murder. Curry is serving time for attempted second-degree murder and carjacking.
Riebe said these two cases are the first violent acts during family visits at the prison that he has seen in more than 25 years as district attorney.
Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, 58, appeared to subtly respond to recent remarks made by her ex-husband, former MLB star David Justice, about her domestic habits during their marriage. Justice, who was married to Berry from 1993 to 1997, claimed in a new interview that she “didn’t cook, didn’t clean” and didn’t seem “motherly” during their time together.
Speaking on the All the Smoke podcast, Justice reflected on their short-lived marriage, saying he was young and inexperienced in relationships at the time. “I was young and had only been in one real relationship before her,” he explained. “If we have kids, is this the woman I want to have kids with and build a family with? At that time… she don’t cook, don’t clean, don’t really seem motherly — and then we start having issues.”
Justice also pointed to their busy schedules as a factor in their split, noting Berry’s thriving acting career kept them apart for long stretches. “She was doing movies in this country, that country,” he said. “Honestly, we probably could have made it if I knew about therapy.”
He went on to reveal that Berry had been the one to initiate marriage, asking him to wed after just five months of dating. “I said OK, but I don’t know if my heart was really into it,” Justice admitted. “I didn’t want to make her feel bad and say no.”
The candid interview quickly went viral, with many on social media debating his comments. Justice’s remarks stirred up discussion about gender roles, expectations in relationships, and the challenges of celebrity marriages.
According to WLBT, Berry, however, seemed unfazed. Taking to Instagram, she posted a carousel of photos with the tongue-in-cheek caption, “Phew…! cooking, cleaning and mothering…” — a clear nod to her ex-husband’s claims. The post sparked thousands of likes and supportive comments from fans applauding her playful clapback.
